Valve responsive to changes in speed



Nov. 25, 1969 J. R. PHLIPOT ET AL 3,480,026

VALVE RESPONSIVE TO CHANGES IN SPEED Filed Oct. 16. 1967 INVENTORS JamesR. Phlipot Lawrence H. Gill Earl W. Clifford BY ATTORNE YS United StatesPatent VALVE RESPONSIVE T0 CHANGES IN SPEED James R. Phlipot, Hamburg,Lawrence H. Gill, Depew,

and Earl W. 'Clifiord, Getzville, N.Y., assignors to Aro of Buffalo,Incorporated, Buffalo, N.Y., a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 16, 1967,Ser. No. 675,613 Int. Cl. G05d 16/00; B64d 25/02 US. Cl. 13738 9 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present so-callcd anti-G valve has aSliding weight working in a bore closed at one end and which closed endhas a pressurized gas inlet and an outlet. An exhaust passage extendsthrough the weight with one end surrounded by a valve seat facing theclosed end of the bore. A valve stem is slidingly mounted on the valvebody to engage this seat and thereafter be moved by the weight to open ademand valve in the inlet thereby admitting pressurized gas to theclosed end of the bore and thence through the outlet to the aviatorssuit. On reverse movement of the weight, the demand valve closes and theweight leaves its seated engagement with the valve stem so as to exhaustthe closed end of the bore, and its outlet, to ambient. As anotherfeature, it is desirable to limit the maximum gas pressure to the suit,regardless of what the weight calls for. This is prevented by having theweight act through a spring against a follower-diaphragm which forms onewall of the closed end of the bore and controls eflective seating of theweight against the valve stem. Approaching excessive value, thepressurized gas restrains movement of the diaphragm (and its action onthe demand valve) regardless of the demand called for by the weight.

The drawing shows a longitudinal central section through the valve.

The valve is shown as having a metal body indicated generally at 5 whichhas a bore indicated generally at 6 which bore is closed at one end toprovide part of a pressurized gas chamber 8, this end being of smallerdiameter than the intermediate portion 9 of the bore so as to form anannular axially facing shoulder 10. This intermediate portion 9 is ofsmaller diameter than the open end portion 11 of the bore so as toprovide an annular shoulder 12 facing the open end of the bore. Thisopen end is closed by means of a cover 13 which can be removably securedto the body 5 in any suitable manner, as by the I threaded screwconnection shown.

The valve is actuated in response to the yieldingly resisted freesliding movement of a metal weight indicated generally at 15. Thisweight is provided at one end with an enlarged cylindrical head 16 whichis in turn provided with a radially outwardly extending cylindricalflange 18, the latter being slidingly fitted in a cylindrical liner 19slip fitted in the enlarged part 11 of the bore 6. The weight isprovided at one end with a stem 20 which projects outwardly through anopening 21 in the cover 13, and at its opposite end with a cylindricalstem 22 slidingly fitted in the cylindrical bore 23 of a metal sleeve24. This sleeve has an outwardly projecting end flange which is heldagainst an O-ring 2-6 interposed between this flange 25 and the annularinternal shoulder 12 of the valve body. This sleeve 24 extends axiallyfrom its flange 25 into the intermediate part 9 of the bore and at itsend adjacent the pressurized gas chamber 8 clamps the rim of theflexible membrane of a follower diaphragm 31 against a cup-shaped metalpartition disk 32. The rim of the flexible membrane 30 seats against thebody seat 10 so that the disk 32, sleeve 24 and liner 19 3,480,026Patented Nov. 25, 1969 are held by the screw cover 13 in fixed relationto the body 5, and in effect form a part thereof, thereby to hold therim of the follower-diaphragm membrane in fixed relation to the body.

The weight 15 is biased away from the pressurized chamber 8 by a helicalcompression spring 35 interposed between the cylindrical radiallyoutwardly extending flange 18 of this weight and the radially outwardlyprojecting flange 25 of the sleeve 24. This weight 15 acts against thefollower-diaphragm 31 through a helical compression spring 36 whichsurrounds a small stem 38 at the corresponding end of the weight 15 andseats against the rim of a metal disk 39 which is contained within acup-shaped metal holder 40 forming part of the followerdiaphragm 31.This disk 39 is provided with a central hole in register with a hole 41in the flexible membrane 30, the rim of this hole coacting with theconical seat 42 at the upper end of a sliding metal valve stem 43. Thisvalve stem is slidingly fitted in a slideway 44 through the center ofthe disk 32 and at its lower end is provided with an enlarged head 45 tolimit upward movement of this valve stem 43.

Gas under pressure, as from an air supply of 100 to 300 p.s.i.g. (notshown), is supplied to an inlet fitting secured to the valve body 5 andwhich has a through passage 56 containing a filter 58. The outlet end ofthis fitting is shown as secured in body boss 59 providing a passage 60providing communication between the inlet passage 56 and the pressurizedgas chamber 8. The fitting 50 can be secured in the boss 59 in anysuitable manner, as by the pair of retaining pins 61 shown, and anO-ring 62 is preferably provided to prevent leakage of the pressurizedair between the boss and inlet fitting.

A tilt demand valve indicated generally at 65 is mounted in the inletfitting 50 at the outlet end of its passage 56 and includes a metalactuating member of stem 66 which projects into the pressurized chamber8 and engages and is actuated by the valve stem 43. The demand valveincludes a stationary metal valve body 67 which is fitted and held inthe outlet end of the pressurized gas supply passage 56 and has acentral opening 68 through which the valve stem 66 extends. On theupstream side of the valve body 67 a cup-shaped metal valve head 69 isattached to the valve stem 66, the rim of this valve head 69 seatingagainst the upstream end face 70 of the demand valve body 67 a spiralcompression spring 71 between the valve body 67 and the tilt valve stem66 serves to hold the tilt demand valve 65 normally closed, and also tohold up the sliding valve stem 43 when necessary.

Movement of the sliding valve stem 43 into the pressurized gas chamber 8tilts the valve stem 66 and its cup-shaped valve head 69 so as to permitpressurized gas from the supply conduit 56 to flow through the opening68 to pressurize the gas in the chamber 8. This pressurized gas isimpressed against the corresponding face of the follower-diaphragm 31through an opening or slot 72 through the disk 32, and flows out throughan outlet passage 73 through an outlet fitting 74 to the aviators suit(not shown) to pressurize the bladder or capstans proportionately to thenumber of gravities imposed on the aviator. The outlet fitting 74 isshown as fitted in a body boss 75 and held by means of a pair ofretaining pins 76, an O-ring seal 78 also being provided.

The conical end 42 of the valve member 43 forms a relief valve for thepressure in the pressurized gas chamber 8 and which acts both to preventthe suit pressure from rising above a safe value and also to relieve thepressure in the pressurized gas chamber 8 when the weight 15 is returnedto normal by its spring 35 and, pressurization of the aviators suit isno longer required. To guide the follower-diaphragm 31 in such valvingaction with the conical end 42 of the sliding valve head or stem 43, anupstanding tube 80 is formed integrally with the follower disk 39 andits enlarged end extends into and is slidable in a through passage orbore 82 extending coaxially through the weight 15. A retaining screw 83prevents this tube from sliding out of this through passage or bore 82by engagement with the annular shoulder 84 formed on the exterior ofthis tube, but this retaining screw 83 is not tightened against and doesnot interfere with the free sliding movement of the tube within the bore82. In addition to holding the follower-diaphragm centered, when thesliding valve stem 43 unseats from the seat 41, this tube guides theescaping air out through the bore 82 from which it vents through afilter 85, the outlet end of the bore.

To smooth out the operation of the valve and in particular to avoidpulsating action, it was found desirable to provide a small bleed hole86 in the casing 5, this hole continuously bleeding a small amount ofthe pressurized gas in the chamber 8 to ambient.

Operation When the anti-G valves goes into operation, as in pulling outof a dive, the deceleration moves the Weight downwardly, as viewed inthe figure, against the resistance of its helical compression spring 35.Such movement of the weight 15 is transmitted through the helicalcompression spring 36 to the follower-diaphragm 31 the rim 30 of whichis clamped between the fixed sleeve 24 and fixed cup-shaped disk 32 soas to form one wall of the pressurized gas chamber 8. The downwardmovement of the diaphragm 31, so induced by the movement of the weight15 and guided by the sliding tube 80 which rests against thefollower-diaphragm, effects downward movement of the sliding valve stem43 and hence downward movement of the stem 66 of the tilt demand valve65. This movement of the stem 66 tilts the demand valve head 69 so thathigh pressure gas from the supply conduit 56 escapes through the opening68 into the pressurized chamber 8 and thence through the conduit 73 ofthe outlet fitting 74 to the bladder and capstans of the aviators suit(not shown).

In the event that the weight 15 is moved with such force as to call fora suit pressure which is excessive for the aviator, such excessivepressure is prevented from being delivered by the anti-G valve by virtueof the spring loaded follower-diaphragm 31 which is interposed betweenthe weight 15 and the tilt demand valve 65. Thus, the helical spring 36is selected so as to refuse to permit such excessive pressures todevelop in the pressurized chamber 8 and hence in the suit of theaviator. When the pressure in the suit and pressurized chamber 8approaches such maximum value this pressure lifts the follower-diaphragm31 from its seat on the conical end 42 of the valve stem 43 and permitsthe escape of pressurized gas from the pressurized gas chamber 8regardless of the amount of pressure being exerted on the other end ofthis helical compression spring 36 by the weight 15.

When the aviator has pulled out of the dive, the weight 15 is returnedto its normal inoperative position by the helical compression spring 35.This relieves the pressure of this weight, through the helicalcompression spring 36, against the follower-diaphragm 31. Since thepressure against the bottom of the follower-diaphragm 31 is greater thanthe ambient pressure against the topside of this follower-diaphragm,this preponderating pressure in the pressurized chamber 8 lifts thediaphragm, against the reduced resistance of the helical compressionspring 36, so as to unseat the conical end 42 of the valve stem 43 fromthe valve seat 41 in the follower-diaphragm 31. Accordingly, pressurefrom the pressurized chamber 8 (and also from the bladder and capstan ofthe aviators suit) is relieved past the open valve seat 41 into thesliding tube 80 and through the bore 82 to atmosphere.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present anti-G valve ischaracterized by a simple and direct connection of the weight 15 throughthe exhaust valve member or stem 43 to the demand valve 65 so as toactuate both in proper sequence, and also by the provision of the simplespring loaded follower-diaphragm between the weight 15 and the exhaustvalve member or stem 43 so that eX- cessive pressures can never buildup.

We claim:

1. A valve responsive to acceleration having a valve body provided witha bore closed at one end, a Weight slidable axially in said bore, meansbiasing said weight away from said closed end, an inlet for supplyinggas under pressure to said closed end of said bore, and an outlet forsaid gas from said closed end of said bore; wherein the inventioncomprises said weight being provided with a through passage of havingone end opening into said closed end of said bore and surrounded by avalve seat and its opposite end open to ambient, a valve head movablymounted on said body in position to seat ''against said seat andthereafter be moved in response to the movement of said weight towardthe closed end of said bore, a demand valve in said inlet and includingan actuating member in the path of said valve head to be engaged therebyand open said demand valve in response to such movement of said weighttoward the closed end of said bore, whereby movement of said weighttoward said closed end of said bore first seats said valve head andthereafter moves it to open said demand valve and admit gas underpressure to said outlet, and movement of said Weight in the oppositedirection first closes said demand valve and thereafter unseats saidvalve head to exhaust gas under pressure from said outlet through saidpassage to ambient.

2. A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve head is in theform of a valve stem mounted for sliding movement relative to said bodyin the same direction as said weight.

3. A valve responsive to acceleration having a valve body provided witha bore closed at one end, a weight slidable axially in said bore, meansbiasing said weight away from said closed end, an inlet for supplyinggas under high pressure to said closed end of said bore, and and outletfor said gas from said closed end of said bore; wherein the inventioncomprises follower means for said weight at said closed end of saidbore, spring means biasing said follower =means away from said weight,and demand valve means actuated by said follower means to admit saidhigh pressure gas from said inlet into said closed end of said bore inresponse to movement of said follower means by said weight toward saidclosed end of said bore, the pressure of said gas in said closed end ofsaid bore being impressed only against the side of said follower meansremote from said weight whereby when said weight demands an excessivegas pressure, the gas pressure in said closed end of said bore restrainsmovement of its follower means to prevent build up of said excessive gaspressure.

4. A valve as set forth in claim 3 wherein said follower means comprisesa diaphragm across said bore forming a pressurized gas chamber at theclosed end of said bore separate from the end of said bore containingsaid weight.

5. A valve as set forth in claim 4 wherein said spring means comprises ahelical compression spring interposed between the opposing sides of saidweight and diaphragm.

6. A valve as set forth in claim 4 additionally includes a pressurerelief valve actuated by said diaphragm in response to pressures in saidpressurized gas chamber in excess of the pressure called for by saidweight.

7. A valve as set forth in claim 6 wherein said relief valve comprisesan opening through said diaphragm and surrounded by a relief valve seat,a valve member eugageable with said relief valve seat, and a reliefpassage from the outlet side of said relief opening to the atmosphere.

5 8. A valve as set forth in claim 7 wherein said relief valve openingseat and member are generally coaxial with said bore and wherein saidrelief passage includes a relief bore extending generally coaxiallythrough said weight.

9. A valve as set forth in claim 7 additionally including 5 an openended tube having one end bearing against said diaphragm and surroundingsaid relief valve opening and having its other end slidingly fitted insaid relief bore in said weight.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,966,916 1/1961 Cummins l37393,106,203 10/1963 Mayo 137-38 X CLARENCE R. GORDON, Primary Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

